MACON, Ga. — It's been 45 years since a Macon nightclub sold $1 tickets for music fans to hear a new band under local management known as the Allman Brothers Band.
Decades later, fans have commemorated the legendary Southern rockers' arrival in Macon with a plaque outside the Library Ballroom that marks the May 2, 1969, concert as the Allman Brothers' first paid gig.
The Macon Telegraph reports (http://bit.ly/RkwaWz ) the Georgia Allman Brothers Band Association, a group of die-hard fans, unveiled the plaque at a reception party Sunday. The group's president, Dave Pierson, says the band's Macon debut came shortly after it relocated from Jacksonville, Fla. The Allmans moved to Macon to be close to their manager, Phil Walden, and his record label, Capricorn Records.

Anatomy of a Song: 'Ramblin' Man' (from the Wall Street Journal)

The Allman Brothers Band was grieving in the fall of 1972. Their prior two albums—"At Fillmore East" and "Eat a Peach"—had pioneered a new sound by blending roadhouse blues and long, improvised rock guitar solos. But the motorcycle death a year earlier of Duane Allman—the band's co-founder and co-lead guitarist—was a blow that left the band's future uncertain.

In need of material for their next album, "Brothers and Sisters," guitarist Dickey Betts offered up "Ramblin' Man," a song he had written and hoped to sell in Nashville. The band liked the upbeat country song about wanderlust, but all agreed it would need an arrangement more in keeping with their blues-rock sound.

It’s Saturday night and Sarasota resident Dickey Betts stands at the center of the stage looking lean and healthy. He’s wearing what appears to be the same cowboy hat, orange T-shirt, blue jeans and boots combo he donned during the superb show he played recently at Robarts Arena in Sarasota. Except this time, Betts is at the Beacon Theatre in New York City where he used to make magic every March with his old group, the Allman Brothers Band.

Betts walks on stage to join his former Allman Brothers Band cohort Derek Trucks and the rest the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The sight of this long-awaited, unexpected reunion causes members of the frenzied crowd to shout, “Oh my god!”

Dickey Betts’ performance Saturday at Robarts Arena in Sarasota ranged from brilliant to emotive to ebullient, often in the same song. The guitar great, who has lived in the Sarasota area most of his life, elated and astounded the audience. He performed a set of cleverly updated, self-composed classics, mostly culled from his years with the Allman Brothers Band. In fact, it is doubtful Sarasota has hosted such a satisfying rock show since Dickey Betts and the rest of the original Allman Brothers played the same venue in 1971.

The headliner for the “Saving Austin’s Baby Blues” benefit, Dickey Betts and his backing band Great Southern took the stage around 9:30 p.m., launching into the dreamy introduction of “High Falls.” One of Betts’ most richly textured instrumentals, the song first appeared at nearly 15 minutes on the Allman Brothers Band’s 1975 album “Win or Lose Draw.” While striking in its original form, the composition reached a greater peak Saturday with bassist Pedro Arevalo leading the way for Betts’ fluid improvisations, which flowed over the spot-on drumming of Frankie Lombardi and Kenny Crawley. Guitarists Duane Betts (Dickey’s son), and Andy Aledort enriched the soundscape with delicate harmony lines and smart fills. Keyboardist Mike Kach glided in and out with flurries of keen notes. Dickey Betts and Great Southern sounded superb. The energy and creativity coming from the stage would continue throughout the special evening.

The name Dickey Betts is pretty much synonymous with The Allman Brothers Band and while he hasn’t been a member in quite some time, the man’s guitar playing and long improvisational solos prove that his sound was vital to their growth and maturity over the years as it’s been a staple one to many ears and keeps going strong...
For more, check out Craig J. Sandor's excellent review at the Live Music Blog!

In the early days, The Allman Brothers Band was brought to life by the earth-shattering interplay of guitarists Dickey Betts and Duane Allman. Gibson Custom has commemorated the guitar legends’ partnership with the new Dickey Betts “From One Brother to Another” SG. The guitar is an exacting reproduction of one of the most famous axes in music history, the SG Standard Dickey gave to Duane. Betts recently stopped by the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, and spoke with fellow guitarist Lee Roy Parnell about the SG, his days with the Allmans and what he’s got planned for the future.
Check out the whole article, with exclusive video, at Gibson.com, and for more information on the Dickey Betts SG, you can check it out here!

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